On Starting Fresh

Okay, so this post is more for me than you. It’s kind of a brainstorm of what I want to do with this blog moving forward. Contrary to what I originally planned, this blog has taken a backseat to other projects in my life. I’m at a point now where I need to decide what I’m going to do, because I do NOT want to keep following the same routine that I followed this spring. Writing truly is my passion and what I want to do for the rest of my life, so I think this blog needs to become more important to me. I have started changing things up at my YouTube Channel by introducing a new format to my videos, and I think it’s time to start doing the same thing here.

I know that some things haven’t been the best here on this blog, but I think I know where the problem areas are: the frequency of updates is sporadic at best, and Ryan’s Book Nook is out of place. I think the concept of book reviews can stay, but having a separated segment is confusing and distracting from the overall idea of this blog. Also, I think that this is a great outlet for me to post thoughts when I have them, but I need some sort of regular schedule to follow for blog posts. Right now I think two or three posts a week is ideal, but I’m still not sure when each post would be published. I think my blog is an outlet that I will reserve for more political or in-depth discussions.

So, what do you think? This isn’t just a place for me to rant about something and not care what anyone thinks, I want this blog to be full of discussion that continues after I hit “publish.” Give me your suggestions for what you want to see in the comments section. I look forward to starting fresh and finally getting the blog I always wanted up and running.

On Life With The iPad

Yes, I did it. I bought an iPad. In fact, I am writing this blog post on it right now. Something that a lot of people want to know is “should I get one?” and my answer to them is always that it is a very personal decision. I don’t know if an iPad will fit into your life, but I’m going to tell you how it has fit into mine.
One thing that I have found is that the iPad has nearly replaced my laptop. If you use your laptop all over the place like I used to, you will love the iPad. I use the iPad everywhere that I used my laptop t hat wasn’t my desk. It has been very handy with casual web browsing on the couch and a media consumption. Movies are awesome on the iPad’s screen, and I have found myself reading a lot of comics on the tablet.
There are so many great apps on the iPad. The Lego Harry Potter app is one of the best games I have ever played on any console. Reeder for iPad gives me all of my news every morning in a perfect way, and the twitter app is amazing. There are apps for pretty much anything you want to do, and they all work great on the huge screen.
As for typing, it’s something that you can get Unser to very quickly, but I don’t think that I am going to be spending very much time using the on screen keyboard. I think that for all of my content creation, the computer is still my best friend, but for watching, reding, or playing, the iPad is king.

On The New iPad and What I’m Going To Do

Yesterday, Apple announced the iPad 2. The new device has a much thinner design, two cameras, and faster processing and graphic power. Plus, believe it or not, a white model. Now, here’s my dilemma:

I want an iPad. I mean, who doesn’t? But I’m not sure how I want to go about getting one. I’m still not sure if the new features are really enough for me to want to pay the over $500. I have a few options.

1. Buy the new iPad. It’s got some pretty cool new features and it is super thin. But the high price tag is a big deal breaker.

2. Get the original iPad. I can get a top of the line iPad of last year’s model at the same price as the bottom of the line iPad 2. I’m thinking this would be the best deal, getting the bottom of the line model from last year at only $350 dollars.

3. Wait. There’s going to be a new iPad in a year anyway, and I really don’t have an immediate need for an iPad, even though I did already buy some apps.

So what would you do? I’m not sure what I’m going to do at the moment. Maybe combine 2 and 3, and get a cheap iPad for now, then sell it if a better model comes out next year. What do you think? Also, what do you think about the new iPad? Are the new features enough for you to buy one?

Book Nook: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky

I really liked this book. Is that a powerful way to start a book review or did I give too much away? Screw it, I’m just going to dive right in. This is a fantastic book and everyone should go out and read it RIGHT NOW. Maybe. I’m still not sure how I feel about this book, but maybe I should start from the beginning.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the most strangely formatted books I have ever read. It’s a series of letters detailing the events that happen over a year; however the letters are written more in a train-of-thought format, more like diary entries than letters. We do not know who this letters are going to. We do not know who these letters are from. We are told at the beginning that all of the names have been changed to protect identities and locations are intentionally left very vague. The letters are from someone named “Charlie,” but we receive hardly any information about the person on the other end.

This book wasn’t afraid to go out on a limb. “Charlie” is an incredibly honest, no-holds-barred narrator who tells the story with a keen eye for detail and meaning. He notices things in situations that I certainly wouldn’t have if I was there. As for the story, there really isn’t one. This is more of an account of how the characters react to the situations they’re faced with. It’s more of a realistic telling of the life of a High School student, with tons of little story arcs instead of one big one. The characters deal with teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, smoking, abortion, rape, abusive relationships, and the struggle of when is the right time to tell the truth.

This brings me to really my only problem that I had with the book. I am still unsure of why it exists. There is no explanation for why the letter sending is initiated, so it seems as if the letters just happened to be written through all of the events in the novel. It seemed like a bit too much of a coincidence for me. If, however, you like stories about the many kinds of relationships people can have, this is a strong recommendation.

Book Nook Rundown:

Length: Medium-short. Not so much a quick read, but still quite short. Comparable in length to most of the novels by David Levithan.

Feel: Quite dark, but with many light and funny parts.

Flow: Although there are sometimes long breaks between the letters, the story still seems to flow quite well. The story never really slows down. “Charlie’s” voice carries you through the story very effectively.

Voice: “Charlie’s” voice is honest and sincere. Sometimes the things he says are heartbreaking, even if he doesn’t realize it. Very similar to the feel of something between The Catcher in the Rye and Looking for Alaska.

Worth It?: Yes. The book isn’t that expensive, and is actually quite durable. The story is very good and has lots of reread value. This is a book that I would read again.

Buy, Borrow, or Pass: I think that this would be a buy if you like other books like this. If not, I still think you should give this book a shot, so it’s a borrow for everyone else.

On The Boathouse Death

Spoiler Warning: This post contains spoilers for the upcoming film “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two.” Proceed with caution!

As you may already know, a report surfaced last week about a change that was made to the final Harry Potter film, specifically Snape’s death scene. It talks about how Snape no longer dies in the Shrieking Shack, but now in the Hogwarts boathouse. The report claims that this is a tasteful and beautiful sequence with Hogwarts burning in the background.

This report made me thing of another story that surfaced a couple of months ago, also regarding Snape’s death scene. Looking back on this article, I realized just what could happen to make the sequence, and even the entire film, even better: foreshadowing. I’m not saying that this idea MUST end up in the movie, this is just something that I came up with that I would like to share.

What if the place where Snape dies ends up having some sort of significance with his relationship with Lily? For example, what if the place where he dies in the boathouse is the same place where Lily “breaks up” with him, or they have some sort of romantic or dramatic encounter there. This would only end up emphasizing the tragedy that is Snape’s death, and really his whole life. What if the boathouse becomes a sort of meeting place for Severus and Lily, and really a symbol for their relationship? Now Snape would not only die looking at her eyes, but also in their special place, with the only place they could ever be together burning down in the background. This is the type of poetic symbolism that I love in literature.

So what do you think of this idea? Would this strengthen the story or should they stick to the original? I am not as picky as some people about the filmmakers changing the story slightly to make the flow more cinematic (I think the Slughorn Lily story in movie six is fantastic) but I do not agree with them changing things to make the movie easier for them to produce (Cough Cough, Dobby). Remember: this is NOT a report of what’s happening in the film, merely a description of a sequence I think would be great for the final film. For more information on what we know about the change, check the links at the beginning of this post.

Book Nook: Zombicorns by John Green

Why, hello there dear readers, I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. Today I’m doing something new by introducing a new series here on my blog called Ryan’s Book Nook, where I will be doing book reviews! Today I am going to be reviewing Zombicorns by John Green.

This is not an ordinary Zombie novella. The zombies do not spring into being from infected saliva of other zombies (that we know of), but from eating infected corn. The zombies act as living extensions of the corn, doing everything in their power to ensure its survival. What we know of as the world has ended, with only the last threads of humanity clinging to existence. We follow the story through Mia (I know, a girl protagonist!), a badass survivor hiding in a bunker in Lincoln Park with a dog named Mr. President. We learn that she is running low on rations and will soon have to make a decision on what to do next, but keeps putting it off.  We learn about her family and how the outbreak came about, but most of the story is spend focusing on her relationship with another survivor named Caroline.

Although John continually mentioned how bad the book is, it’s still one of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. The story flows pretty well and the characters’ interaction is believable. It’s only when you step out of the story that you realize how silly the concept of “Zombie Corn” is. The story actually has a really good message about humanity (as all good zombie stories should) and the greater good. As for weaknesses, of course there are a few minor things. With a few formatting inconsistencies the story could definitely use an editor. My only other complaint is that I wish there was more! I loved every second of reading this story and encourage everyone to read it as well. It’s just a side project, I know, but the special John Green feel is there and the story isn’t missing anything. This novella made me laugh hysterically (The mini-story in footnote 6 is fantastic) as well as cry (the ending is very reminiscent of the ending of The Hunger Games). I know it most likely will never ever happen in the next century, but the option is definitely there for a sequel.

Book Nook Rundown:

Length: Short: Just over 17 000 words.

Feel: Very dark and depressing, although littered with vert funny anecdotes.

Flow: Choppy in some places, but to be expected with a first draft.

Voice: Great voice for the character, although it took me a while to realize it was a girl, as well as a few chapters after that to remember that I was listening to a female’s story.

Worth it?: BIG YES on this one. I was extremely satisfied with this book.

Buy, Borrow or Pass: Definite buy on this one. It’s a great story and the money goes to a fantastic cause.

Zombiecorns is available as an ebook with a 25 dollar donation to Partners in Health here.

On Harry Potter and Apple

The best part of Harry Potter is over. The best part was waiting for the next book to come out, sharing theories with friends and going over the extensive lists of rumors. It was a time when no one knew what was going to happen, and no one was right or wrong because everything just existed. It was a time of excitement and anticipation, counting down the days until the next installment would land in our anxious hands. It was the days when Snape’s loyalties were a bigger conversation topic than the election, when the mysterious lion man had more strange theories than Area 51.

Last night I had a revelation. I realized why it is that I like following tech news so much. It’s because of Harry Potter. Right now there is tons of speculation about upcoming Apple products, most notably about upcoming versions of the iPad and the iPhone. This brings me back to the early days of Harry Potter. We don’t know what’s coming, but we share theories and rumors until we get to an Apple announcement day, when we all find out what happens at the same time. With live streams, live blogs, and Twitter, everyone gets the information at the same time, very much like the midnight releases of Harry Potter books, and the Golden Weekend (Harry Potter books always came out on Saturdays, leaving a weekend to transition between before and after). Sure, guessing what kind of display the next iPad will have is nothing like guessing if Harry is a Horcrux (which I called, by the way), but it is something to guess, to talk about and get right or wrong. Sure, Apple announcements aren’t as exciting as Harry Potter book releases, but it still brings the exciting feeling that you’re going to find out who got it right.

On a Quick Change to Facebook

So today, and this may come as a bit of a shock to some of you, I’m actually doing some reporting. While surfing around on Facebook today I noticed that something had changed. This may be a bit subtle, but they changed the “Remove from Friends” button to “Unfriend.”

I’m not sure if I like this change. I think the term “unfriend” sounds unprofessional and a bit slangy, not to mention jargon that some users may not understand. So do you think that Facebook should have made this change? Is Mark Zuckerburg riding on the success of the unauthorized movie about him or his position as Person of the Year? Feel free to discuss in the comments.

On What I Think Will Happen This Year

I’ll be straightforward and say that this is a prediction post. It’s quite fun to have your predictions for the next year written down and sealed away to be reviewed at the end of the year. At the end of the year I’ll have a results post to see what I predicted and what I got right and wrong. Most of these predictions will be techie, but I’ll try to throw in some general predictions too. Let’s get started.

Apple Will Release a TV

I think that this September during their annual music/entertainment/iPod announcement they will announce THE Apple TV. I don’t think that they will make the TV themselves, but it will be like the Apple TV that they have now built-in to a TV by a company like LG or Samsung. To me this just seems like an obvious next step for Apple.

Obama Will Announce that he is Not Running for Office Again

This may be shocking to some, but I don’t think that Obama will run for a second term as president. He seems like the type of guy that comes on for one term, does a whole lot of good, but is ready to call it quits after four years. I don’t see Obama coming back for the next term.

eBooks Won’t Take off as Fast as People are Expecting

Now don’t get me wrong, I know that eBooks are the next thing. My prediction is that there will be no big changes with eBooks this year. eBooks in 2011 will stay exactly how they were in 2010.

App Stores will be All The Rage

Everyone has to have an app store. Since Apple announced the Mac App Store that will be launching in just a few days, I’ve been thinking that lots of other companies will want to get in on the action. I think that in the next few years even your toaster will have its own App Store.

Online Movie Rentals will get Cheaper

I think that the movie industry will realize that streaming movies online is how most people watch their content these days, and online stores like iTunes and Amazon will lower movie rental prices to try to compete with subscription services like Netflix. It seems like this will get more people watching their movies, yet not actually owning them on their computers (which is something the movie industry hates).

The iPod Classic will Finally Die

It’s time for our good old friend to kick the bucket. At last year’s iPod event Steve Jobs said that they were updating every single iPod in the line, yet they never mentioned the Classic, although it is still available. I think that this is the end for the Classic. As prices in flash memory get cheaper, Apple will double the memory capacity on all of their iPods, bringing the iPod Nano up to 32GB and the iPod Touch all the way up to 128GB. And really, which would you rather have?

Well, that’s that. This year is shaping up to be a great one, and I can’t wait to check in at the end of the year and see how I did! Feel free to chime in with your own predictions on anything in the comments.

On How I’m Really Sorry and it won’t ever Happen Again (But Probably Will)

This is not my proudest moment. I’m very sorry that I haven’t been updating ANY of my internet outlets (YouTube, etc.) lately. I am committing to updating more often now, I promise! The only thing is that as I look back on this blog, nearly half of my posts are apologies for not updating very often. I WILL CHANGE THINGS! I hope. I’m sorry that this post is very all over the place. That’s how I write if I don’t think about what I’m going to say ahead of time. So, what can you expect from me?

My video blogs will be returning, and the blog will be updated more often, too. I’m going to have a few different series coming up, including one on the holiday season, as well as some more reviews. Reviews were what I always did in my early blogging days, so now there’s something that I’m kind of good at that you can look forward too. I also hope to have more current-events related pieces up in a timely mannar. You will start to see me targeting in more on my specific interests, but this is my blog, I can do what I want. If I want to talk about NASA I will, and there’s nothing you can do about it!

Also, I would appreciate more reader feedback. I’d really really like it if I could get you guys to comment on my posts a bit more. Eventually if I get enough readers I will start to have contests! Yay, free stuff! So comment. Thank so much! Love you! Bye!